The Padres have avoided arbitration with outfielder Seth Smith, the club announced on Twitter. Smith will earn $4.5MM, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz had projected that Smith would merit a $4.3MM salary in his final trip through arbitration.
The 31-year-old hit .253/.329/.391 in 410 plate appearances last year in Oakland, including eight long balls. He had hit at least 14 home runs in each of the previous four seasons, though three of those were spent at homer-prone Coors Field. Smith has been most attractive in a platoon role throughout his career, posting a lifetime .844 OPS against righties and just a .582 OPS versus same-handed hurlers.
San Diego acquired Smith from the Athletics back in December, in exchange for reliever Luke Gregerson. As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, the Pads have reached agreement with three arb-eligible players (Tim Stauffer and Eric Stults, in addition to Smith) and have six more to go: Kyle Blanks, Everth Cabrera, Andrew Cashner, Chase Headley, Ian Kennedy, and Tyson Ross. Swartz projects that group to command a total of $22.7MM, on top of the $8.85MM that the club has already committed through arbitration this year.
So the Padres had about $18 million in the 2014 budget for player acquisitions and they are spending it on Josh Johnson, Joaquin Benoit, and Seth Smith. Not a GM here, but I’m not sure I’d be happy with this if I were a Padres fan.
Note that Gregerson is projected to earn slightly more than Smith, so that trade — viewed in isolation — actually may save some cash.
Too soon to rate this offseason. Johnson could have a great season. Smith may continue to mash right handers, and if Benoit puts together a season like a few of his previous ones, Byrnes did a great job. If each of the aforementioned players crash and burn, so does this offseason.
Well, it’s a better haul than Jorge Cantu, Brad Hawpe and other ghosts of winters past.
“What league did you play in?”
“California Penal.”
Joaquin Benoit is a good reliever, probably not better than Gregerson though. And he is certainly not a closer.
Which Gregerson are you comparing him to.? The Gregerson that was traded had less of an up side than the current Benoit,
Gregerson seems much better if you never have to watch him pitch when his slider isn’t working.
4.2 mil for a 31-year-old hit .253/.329/.391 in 2013. Wow, maybe this 67 year old should start training to be a dugout water carrier!!!!!